stephen j edgar photoblog

What a trip, what a trip! One little day off and off the races tomorrow for part 2. Exhausted, but feeling fine. No malaria, no more altitude sickness, no montazuma…..

We set a torrid pace for week one. Took three flights to various regions in the North and the East, down in the rain forest. Quite a change in climate from La Paz. Places we went to had been badly affected by flooding a month ago and the water has yet to recede in some places. Villages have been cut off from any help or food or medical aid and their crops have been ruined -not good. But there are folks willing to help. Rode with Oxfam, World Vision, Save the Children, and even the Bolivian Air Force. Very inspiring to see such an impressive mobilisation of support -many of them volunteers! So there I was roving around the country side with all my gear going here and there and taking meetings and sitting in on lectures -shooting the whole time of course -whew….it has been a job

Go here to see a little gallery I put together of week one. They are in no particular order I’m affraid…have had no time between taking pics and shooting video and then tagging ALL the shots…up late many a night organizing and editing things down a little -tonight being no different. Anyway, no time to write this thing so i appreciate all your patience!

Last night did pop out with the gang for a little walk about around La Paz. What a marvelous city! There was an all night museum tour that was just spectacular. VERY well attended to boot.

gotta fly! up early and still have yet to pack -YIKES!!!!

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An unbelievable cab ride from the airport to city centre JUST as the sun was breaking marked my introduction to La Paz Bolivia. The airport at El Alto is at least 1000m higher than La Paz. Driving down a big curving road you have an almost birds eye view of La Paz and the astounding Mt Ilimani. The sun rakes across the buildings that cling to the side of the canyon. A sight to behold and an beautiful photo op to boot -but not this morning. After a sleepless night all I could do was gaze and smile. An interesting fact about the airport. It’s the highest airport on earth and because the air is so thin, the airplanes need a 5km runway to land and to take off. Man, did we come in FAST this morning! Any craft flying out of La Paz will burn so much of it’s fuel that a refueling stop in nearby Santa Cruz Bolivia is essential. I couldn’t figure out why there were no flights direct to Miami…and that’s why for all you interested.

As we trundled up and down through rush hour La Paz we dipped into shadow and ascended into orange morning light, I wondered why I had not heard more of this place: it’s BEAUTIFUL. Winding cobble stone roads, colonial architecture…I thought of her history and specifically how (and why) in the hell anyone would’ve seen the potential in building this high up…what forsight! Obviously Captain Alonzo de Mendoza convinced the right people and those people had friends who bought in…..GOLD baby. Yup, those Spaniards of the 1500s sure had a nose for it. Apparently the River Choqueyapu (or CHOKE as it’s now known) was full of the yellow stuff……today it’s full of a different yellow stuff…

Checked into my suite and crashed.

Woke up round noon and spent the remainder of the day bombing around in another taxi cab shopping for shoes. Here I grew even more enamoured by the ups and downs and twists and turns of the city. Imagine San Francisco but with steeper hills all cobble stone…and now replace all the Americans with the Cholita (the colourfully dressed ‘market women’) -trust me it’s nice. here’s a snap.

quaint isn’t it? But don’t get me wrong. There are lots of deisel fumes, lots of stray dogs, lots of homeless folks….it’s South America, whadaya expect!?!?! But really, all in all, a very well kept secret.

gotta fly, assignment starts tomorrow.

hugs

Well folks, here I am at Miami International Airport drinking it all in. Peeps of all shapes and sizes from all over the Americas are wandering around aimlessly (none more so than myself!), or lining up at the various troughs for consumption, or corralling their brats, or watching CNN, or just staring off into space….

it’s truly unbelievable how jam packed this place is.

Anyway, I’m here awaiting my connecting flight to La Paz Bolivia. Only 5 more hours to go…Yup. It’s finally happening. I’ve been meaning to keep you abreast of the pre production aspects of this assignment but it’s been tougher than I thought and I’ve had little time left for my lovely family let alone this blog.  All in all it’s been a little different than what I’ve been use to. Emotionally speaking, I feel as though I have hit every hill and valley of my very being during this exercise. Ah, the details aren’t important, so I’ll sum up the experience with the help of an old master:

Bottom line is that part’s over and now it comes down to what I do best. So I’m happy.

Here’s the gig as I understand it so far: 9 consecutive days of flying and driving around Bolivia with a writer and a translator. Priority number one is Stills. Priority number two is Video. I’ll traveling with my Nikon D2x for stills and a Sony V1U DVcam for vids…sounds good, doesn’t it? The joy I’m feeling now is because I successfully got through customs and was able to carry-on all my essential camera gear without any hassle whatsoever. I even got myself a bulkhead seat!

and now for the flight to La Paz….I depart for that storied region in mere hours….and hours.

I’ll try to keep you updated. I have no idea whether there will be any connectivity in the areas I’ll be shooting but something tells me it’s gonna be a little dicey. PLEASE get in touch with me. I’d love to hear from you…

hugs